Robot Umps?!

[a700hitter]

Aside from Kimmi, the resistance to robo umps seems to be an age thing.

 

dgalehouse, Elktonnick, Maxbialystock

 

You guys care to note your ages?

 

I'm 65, but I think all you guys have me by a few.

You are old. Moon is old. I am old. We all support Robo umps. There goes that theory.

[moonslav59]

You are old. Moon is old. I am old. We all support Robo umps. There goes that theory.

 

Yes, and I am someone who is very slow to adapt to technology.

 

I was still buying albums when CDs were popular.

 

I still had a flip phone until just a few years ago and hardly ever use my cell phone, now.

[Bellhorn04]

I used to be a little opposed to robo umps myself.

 

I think Laz Diaz in Game 4 of the ALCS was the final clincher for me. So f***ing absurd to have a hack like that still impacting big games in 2021.

[a700hitter]

Yes, and I am someone who is very slow to adapt to technology.

 

I was still buying albums when CDs were popular.

 

I still had a flip phone until just a few years ago and hardly ever use my cell phone, now.

Flip phones were great because they went 2- 3 days on a charge.

[mvp 78]

Yes, and I am someone who is very slow to adapt to technology.

 

I was still buying albums when CDs were popular.

 

I still had a flip phone until just a few years ago and hardly ever use my cell phone, now.

 

Knowing what we know now, that was just a good investment strategy.

[mvp 78]

Flip phones were great because they went 2- 3 days on a charge.

 

I should have never turned in my RAZR.

[notin]

Knowing what we know now, that was just a good investment strategy.

 

Not if he was buying A-ha and Kajagoogoo albums...

[moonslav59]

Knowing what we know now, that was just a good investment strategy.

 

I have sold some for a handsome profit, but I've kept my faves.

 

I have the Beatles White Album in white vinyl.

[moonslav59]

Flip phones were great because they went 2- 3 days on a charge.

 

I remember showing my flip phone to my students, and they laughed at me.

 

They were asking how it worked, as they put their fingers on the tiny screen to try and make the image get bigger.

[mvp 78]

Not if he was buying A-ha and Kajagoogoo albums...

 

Depends on what version you have.

 

https://www.discogs.com/release/1258214-a-ha-Take-On-Me

 

https://www.discogs.com/release/3017882-Sheena-Easton-Kajagoogoo-Telefone-Hang-On-Now-Extended-Version

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I remember showing my flip phone to my students, and they laughed at me.

 

They were asking how it worked, as they put their fingers on the tiny screen to try and make the image get bigger.

 

Flips were so much easier for old guys to text, because they had raised letter buttons. Plus, you could pick it up by any part and not have to worry about accidentally touching a screen that instantly transports to unwanted sites impossible to get back from. Flip phones also never facetimed random contacts from your pocket, either. No voices from your pants...

[moonslav59]

Flips were so much easier for old guys to text, because they had raised letter buttons. Plus, you could pick it up by any part and not have to worry about accidentally touching a screen that instantly transports to unwanted sites impossible to get back from. Flip phones also never facetimed random contacts from your pocket, either. No voices from your pants...

 

Exactly. That's important to us old men.

[mvp 78]

Flips were so much easier for old guys to text, because they had raised letter buttons. Plus, you could pick it up by any part and not have to worry about accidentally touching a screen that instantly transports to unwanted sites impossible to get back from. Flip phones also never facetimed random contacts from your pocket, either. No voices from your pants...

 

I always find myself accidentally touching my screen and getting to unwanted sites that I can't get out of.

[notin]

I always find myself accidentally touching my screen and getting to unwanted sites that I can't get out of.

 

Accidentally?

[illinoisredsox]

I used to be a little opposed to robo umps myself.

 

I think Laz Diaz in Game 4 of the ALCS was the final clincher for me. So f***ing absurd to have a hack like that still impacting big games in 2021.

 

From what I've read, 3 nights out of 4 during the season, Diaz is a good umpire. On the bases, he is rated pretty high. Very seldom are his calls overturned there. But he rates very poorly behind the plate.

 

As opposed to Angel Hernandez who sucks 4 nights out of 4.

[mvp 78]

Accidentally?

 

You don't have this problem?

[S5Dewey]

You are old. Moon is old. I am old. We all support Robo umps. There goes that theory.

 

You guys are kids! I've got Bell by 9. I was opposed to robo-umps until, like Bell, I saw Diaz in this year's playoffs. That made me think about not only the one AB against JDM but the effect of a bad call anytime in the game. Then I thought about Angel Hernandez and his ongoing incompetence and that sealed the deal for me.

 

Now I'm weakening. I think there's a place and use for the technology, I just don't want umpiring to be consumed by it.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You guys are kids! I've got Bell by 9. I was opposed to robo-umps until, like Bell, I saw Diaz in this year's playoffs. That made me think about not only the one AB against JDM but the effect of a bad call anytime in the game. Then I thought about Angel Hernandez and his ongoing incompetence and that sealed the deal for me.

 

Now I'm weakening. I think there's a place and use for the technology, I just don't want umpiring to be consumed by it.

 

I'm for Robos as long as baseball bans check-the-check-swings. The Giants got eliminated from the playoffs on a bad call by a base ump who was 90 feet away from the action in question... on a concept that no rule books have ever even defined. No more of that, please.

[mvp 78]

You guys are kids! I've got Bell by 9. I was opposed to robo-umps until, like Bell, I saw Diaz in this year's playoffs. That made me think about not only the one AB against JDM but the effect of a bad call anytime in the game. Then I thought about Angel Hernandez and his ongoing incompetence and that sealed the deal for me.

 

Now I'm weakening. I think there's a place and use for the technology, I just don't want umpiring to be consumed by it.

 

It's just an automated strike zone which would make the game more fair.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm for Robos as long as baseball bans check-the-check-swings. The Giants got eliminated from the playoffs on a bad call by a base ump who was 90 feet away from the action in question... on a concept that no rule books have ever even defined. No more of that, please.

 

That should be a reviewable call. More stupidity.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That should be a reviewable call. More stupidity.

 

Before they can review it they have to define it first. Umpires admit there are no rules stating exactly what constitutes a swing or check. MLB TV tried, but the first baseman and ump interviewed said 20 different guys will give you 20 different opinions.

 

At least the rulebook delineates the strike zone... to give everybody parameters they can then disregard.

[moonslav59]

I'd define it as the bat crossing the halfway point of the plate. I know this creates some "what ifs," but there needs to be one clearly defined line that is either crossed or isn't. Until there is, it is only madness.

[jad]

Before they can review it they have to define it first. Umpires admit there are no rules stating exactly what constitutes a swing or check. MLB TV tried, but the first baseman and ump interviewed said 20 different guys will give you 20 different opinions.

 

At least the rulebook delineates the strike zone... to give everybody parameters they can then disregard.

 

Yup. You can't claim an umpiring decision was "bad" on a check-swing until you define what it is. (Most commentators go full "tuck rule" on such matters--deriding the umpires for bad calls, checking the rule book or video and finding it was the RIGHT call, then responding by deriding the umpires even more vigorously.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'd define it as the bat crossing the halfway point of the plate. I know this creates some "what ifs," but there needs to be one clearly defined line that is either crossed or isn't. Until there is, it is only madness.

 

Some were saying they call it a swing if they see the end cap (or cup) of the bat pointing at first base; in other words, a horizontal bat just crossing over the plate isn't really swinging.

Yep, insanity.

[moonslav59]

Some were saying they call it a swing if they see the end cap (or cup) of the bat pointing at first base; in other words, a horizontal bat just crossing over the plate isn't really swinging.

Yep, insanity.

 

They do need to define it, first, and making it an easy definition helps.

 

If we go to robo balls and strikes, maybe this can be something that is detectable and called electronically, too. (Bat crosses the halfway point of plate- it's strike- no matter what angle or reason.

 

If it looks like someone is swinging as they move to avoid being hit, so be it. If the bat is swung but never goes directly over the plate- no strike. It may be weird, but just get something consistent and stick to it. Make it simple and easy to call.

[dgalehouse]

Aside from Kimmi, the resistance to robo umps seems to be an age thing.

 

dgalehouse, Elktonnick, Maxbialystock

 

You guys care to note your ages?

 

I'm 65, but I think all you guys have me by a few.

 

Eh. What's that you say? Robo umps? I think I saw one of those. Not sure.

[moonslav59]

Eh. What's that you say? Robo umps? I think I saw one of those. Not sure.

 

Back in the day, we used to have humans call ball and strikes!

 

Can you believe how backwards we were back when?

[mvp 78]

Personally, I don't care about the art of pitch framing. I find it a little distracting and annoying when catchers constantly bring their glove back to the middle of the zone after most every pitch.

[mvp 78]

s*** like this.

 

https://twitter.com/VanHicklestein/status/1451369108713484302

[S5Dewey]

It's just an automated strike zone which would make the game more fair.

 

Once in a while you and I agree on something. Hitters deserve to know what's going to be called a strike just as pitchers deserve to know that when a pitch is within the strike zone it's going to be called a strike and it shouldn't be up to the discretion of the umpire. The strike zone is defined in the rules and both the pitcher and the hitter should know that the rule is being enforced.

 

Umpires haven't done themselves any favors by making themselves immune to "incentives for excellence", i.e working playoff games. IMO it's time for them to 1) step up and improve their games, and 2) reward the best umpires with post-season games. If they don't do those things they're risking being replaced by technology - and deservedly so.